Instructor:  Alexander B. Murphy, 173 Condon Hall, abmurphy@uoregon.edu

Office hours:  Mondays, 1:30-3:30 or by appointment

Teaching Assistant:  Corey Johnson, 208 Condon Hall, x6-4970, cjohns11@uoregon.edu

Office hours: Wednesdays, 11:00 – 12:00 or by appointment

This course examines political patterns and processes from a geographical perspective.  We look at the political organization of territory in different parts of the world and examine the spatial relationships between political patterns and a variety of related phenomena, including resources, militarization, ethnicity, economic development, and policy making.

For undergraduates the requirements of the course are a map exercise (15% of the grade), a two-page book review of a novel by George Orwell (15% of the grade), two midterm exams (each worth 20% of the grade), and a five-page paper on a territorial conflict between nations or states (30% of the grade).  For graduate students the requirements are participation in a few extra discussion sections (10% of the grade), two midterm exams (each worth 20% of the grade) and a substantial term paper (50% of the grade).  Regular class attendance is expected, and the readings listed below should be completed before the lectures to which they are assigned.  Please note that assignments must be turned in on time.  Since you have ample warning of due dates, no extensions will be granted unless the circumstances are exceptional.

Many of the readings for the course are in article form.  In addition we will all read J. Agnew, Making Political Geography (London: Arnold, 2002) [hereinafter Agnew], and undergraduates will be reading G. Orwell, Burmese Days (New York:  Harcourt, Brace, 1974). 

Everyone should respect the class as a place for learning, both for us individually and for everyone else.  Personal computers may be used during lecture and discussion for note taking. Internet usage in class is distracting to other students and should be avoided.  Showing respect for your peers is absolutely essential to a good group learning process.  This includes tolerance of differing opinions, using your listening skills (in addition to your talking skills), and refraining from personal attacks.  Violations of academic integrity, such as plagiarism and cheating will not be tolerated (see http://libweb.uoregon.edu/guides/plagiarism/students/ and http://studentlife.uoregon.edu/programs/student_judi_affairs/)).  Suspected violations will be reported to the Director of Student Judicial Affairs.  If that office finds the student to be guilty of a violation, it may result in a grade of F for the course.

SCHEDULE OF CLASSES AND REQUIRED READINGS:

January 8

            Introduction to the subject matter of the course

            Geographical perspectives on politics and political arrangements

            Pre-modern forms of political/territorial organization

            Reading:  Agnew, Chapter 1

Map exercise handed out on January 8

January 10 and 16

            Foundations of the modern state system

            The rise of the modern state and associated territorial ideas

                  (the concepts of sovereignty and the nation-state)

            Reading: Chapter 2 in Jones et al. (on Blackboard)

                           Chapter by Murphy, 1996 (on Blackboard)

January 18 and 22

            The diffusion of the nation-state idea

            Imperialism and colonialism

            Reading:    Orwell, Burmese Days (entire book)

*Map exercises due January 22

January 24 and 29

            Geographical approaches to the study of the state

            The importance of territory, resources, and internal spatial structure

            Reading:  Agnew, chapter 2

                            Additional reading

January 31, Feb. 5 and  Feb. 7 (first 30 minutes)

            Political territory, ethnicity, and nationalism

            Case Study: Belgium

            Reading: Article by Mikesell and Murphy, 1991

                           Article by Murphy, 1993

*Orwell Review due Feb. 5

Feb. 7 - FIRST MIDTERM EXAM (last 50 minutes of class)

February 12 and 14

            Geopolitics

            The nature and significance of international boundaries

            International territorial conflicts

            Reading: Agnew, chapters 3-4

Short paper assignment handed out on Feb. 12

February 19

            Ideological bases for the territorial extent of states

            Globalization and its impact on the state as a territorial entity

            Reading:  Chapter by Murphy, 2004 (on Blackboard)

February 21

            Suprastate patterns of political organization and influence

            The role of international organizations

            Reading:  Chapter by Marie Price, 1999 (on Blackboard)

February 26

            The political geography of localities

            Reading: Agnew, pp. 137-157 of Chapter 5

February 28

            Citizenship and policy making

            Environmental issues and concerns

            Readings:    Agnew, pp. 157-164 of Chapter 5

                              Article by Murphy and Hommel, in press (on Blackboard)

March 4

            Contemporary Europe in political geographic perspective

            Reading: Article by Murphy, in press (on Blackboard)

March 6

            Contemporary Russia in political geographic perspective

            Guest lecture: Matthew Derrick (Geography GTF)

            Reading: Article by Dimitri Trenin, 2006 (on Blackboard)

*Short paper due March 6, 2:00 pm

March 11

            The contemporary Middle East in political geographic perspective

            Reading: Article and two op-ed pieces by Murphy, 2002-2006 (on Blackboard)

March 13 (first 30 minutes)

            Whither political geography

            Reading: Agnew, Chapter 6

Mar. 13 SECOND MIDTERM EXAM (50 minutes)